Excavating-bucket.



i C. B. KING, C. B. WESTON, H. E. ROUSH & L. R. RUSSELL. LFXCA'V'ATING BUCKET.

111221401111011 HLBD 1113s. 7, 1911.

1,097,029, Patented May 19, 1914.

@www M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. KING, CLARENCE B. WESTON, HERBERT E. ROUSH, AND LOUIS R. RUSSELL, 0F MARION, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE MARION STEAM SI-IOVEL COMPANY, OF MARION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

EXCAVATING-BUCKET.

Application filed December 7, 1911.

To all 107mm t may conc-ern.

Be it known that we, CHARLES B. KING, CLARENCE B. YVES-TON, HERBERT E. RoUsH, and LOUIS It. RUSSELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ex cavating-Buckets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

This invention relates to excavating buckets and more particularly to that type of bucket known as drag line buckets. A bucket of this type is usually filled by dragging it over the material to be excavated at the end of a substantially horizontal line, thereby causing the lower edge of the open front end of the bucket to dig` into the material and scoop the same into the bucket. Then filled the bucket is elevated by means of a hoisting rope and suitable means are provided to retain the bucket in a substantially horizontal position until it reaches the dump and then cause it to discharge its contents.

The object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the position of the bucket while it is being elevated and conveyed to the dump which will be simple in its construction and operation; which can be easily manipulated; which will not interfere with the filling of the bucket; and which can be produced at a relatively low cost.

The accompanying drawing is a side elevation of an excavating bucket embodying our invention.

In these drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of thel invention and have shown the same as applied to an excavating bucket conforming in its main features of construction to the usual drag line bucket. As here shown this bucket comprises a body portion l having a substantially flat bottom 2. The bucket is open at the top and at the front end and preferably the side walls project some distance beyond the fro-nt edge of the bottom of the bucket, which, if desired, may be provided with teeth 8. Attached to the forward end of the bucket, and in that form here shown to th-e side walls at points in advance of the bottom of the bucket, is a drag line 4 which is operated from a suit- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Serial No. 664,328.

able source of power removed some distance from the bucket and exerts a Substantially horizontal pull on the bucket, thereby dragging the same over the material to be excavated. A flexible supporting member 5, such as a cable or chain, is connected with the bucket at two separated points arranged one in front of the other. In the present instance the front of the cable 5 is bifurcated and is connected to the two side walls of the body of the bucket at points directly opposite one another and arranged in a line in front of the center of the bucket. These points of connection are made adjustable by providing a series of apertures 6, through any one of which a connecting pin 7 may be inserted. The rear end of the cable 5 is connected to the bucket, in the present instance, at a single point only which is preferably arranged at the center of the bucket. This connection is, as here shown, made by rigidly securing the bracket 8aL to the rear wall of the bucket and connecting the cable to the outer end of that bracket and thus arranging the point of connection at a po-int in the rear of the body of the bucket.

The flexible supporting member 5 is loosely connected with a hoist-ing rope 8, it being understood that the hoisting rope may be of any suitable character and the term is here used to designate the hoisting medium whatever its character. In the construction here shown the rope 8 has secured to its lower end a sheave block 9 substantially triangular in shape, the upper corner thereof being secured to the hoisting rope. A sheave 10 is journaled in the rear portion of the block and the flexible supporting member 5 extends about the sheave, thereby connecting the bucket to the hoisting rope. Owing to the arrangement of the flexible supporting member with relation to the bucket some means are required to maintain the bucket in a horizontal position while it is being hoisted. In the absence of some such means the point of connection of the supporting member to the hoisting rope will shift so far as to permit the bucket to dump. The means for controlling the position of the bucket comprises, in the present instance, a controlling line l1 connected at one end with the bucket, extending about a sheave 12 journaled in the forward portion of the sheave block 9 and thence extending forward to a suitable point of operation. Preferably, the controlling line 11 is connected with the drag line et at a point somewhat in advance of the bucket, thereby enabling` the control of the bucket to be effected by manipulating the drag line. The controlling line may be connected with thc body of the bucket in any suitable manner. As here shown, however, we have utilized a part of the supporting member 5 for this purpose and to this end the controlling line is connected with the forward portion of the supporting member at the point of divergence of the two branches thereof. Also if desired the controlling line may be passed about a guide or pulley 13 mounted in brackets 1l on the forward portion of the bucket. This arrangement, while an advantageous one, is not essential to the proper operation of the bucket.. Assuming that the bucket has been filled and is ready to hoist, the hoisting rope is manipulated to exert a pull upon the sheave 10. This pull takes up the slack in the flexible supporting member 5 and the bucket is lifted. At the same time the drag line 4 is maintained taut, and, consequently, the controlling line 11 exerts a forward pull upon the sheave block as well as an upward pull upon the front of the bucket. As a result the sheave block is drawn forward and the position of the block combined with the pull of the controlling line maintain the bucket in a horizontal position so long as the drag line is maintained taut. When the bucket has reached the diunp and it is desired to discharge the contents thereof the drag line is slackened, thereby permitting` the sheave block to move rearwardly and the bucket to tilt forward, thus discharging its contents. After the bucket is dumped it is returned to the point where the excavation is being made and lowered onto the material to be excavated. If the bucket does not assume a proper position on the ground it can be readily manipulated to right it. The forward pull of the drag line will draw the same taut, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and as the bucket is drawn forward, the hoisting` line being slack, will cause the sheave block and flexible support to fall in the rear of the bucket, as indicated in dotted lines. In this position they will be entirely out of the way of the drag line and will not interfere in any way with the filling of the bucket. As soon as the bucket has been filled the hoisting operation is repeated. If desired, a suitable stop, as

indicated at 15, may be secured to the flexible supporting member to limit the upward movement of the forward portion thereof, should the rear of the bucket carry a load greatly in excess of the forward portion thereof, as when a boulder occupies the rear portion of the bucket. This stop will prevent the bucket tilting rearward so far as to dump a portion of its contents. By adjusting the points of connection of the forward portion of the flexible supporting member the hoisting position of the bucket can be adjusted.

lVhile we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purpose of illustration-.only and that we do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination, with a bucket and a drag line therefor, of a supporting member extending longitudinally of said bucket and connected thereto at points arranged one in front of the other and separated a distance less than the length of said supporting member, a hoisting rope slidably connected with said supporting member between its points of connection with said bucket, and al controlling member connected at its ends with said drag line and with the forward portion of said bucket and slidably connected between its ends with said hoisting rope.

2. The combination, with a. bucket open at one end, a hoisting rope, a sheave block carried by said rope, and a sheave mounted on said block, of a fiexible supporting member extending about said sheave and connected with said bucket at two separated points arranged one in front of the other, and a controlling line connected with said sheave block and with said bucket near the open end thereof, whereby said line serves both to raise and lower the open end of said bucket and to control the position of said sheave with relation to the center of gravity of said bucket.

3. The combination, with a bucket open at its front end, a hoisting rope, a sheave block carried by said hoisting rope, two sheaves carried by said block, and a drag line connected with the front end of said bucket, of a flexible supporting member extending about one of said sheaves and connected with said bucket at two separated points arranged one in front of the other, and a controlling line extending about the other of said sheaves and connected at one end with the forward portion of said bucket and at its other end with said drag line.

4. The combination, with a bucket, open at its front end, a hoisting rope, a sheave block carried by said hoisting rope, and two sheaves carried by said block, of a flexible supporting member extending about one of said sheaves and connected with said bucket at two separated points arranged one in front of the other, and a controlling line extending about the other of said sheaves and connected at one end to said supporting member between the first-mentioned sheave and the forward portion of said bucket and serving both to control the up and down movement of the forward end of said bucket with relation to the sheave block and to control the position of the sheave block with relation to the center of gravity of said bucket.

5. The combination, with an excavating bucket open at its front end, a bracket secured to said bucket and extending rearwardly therefrom, a hoisting rope, a sheave block connected with said rope, a sheave mounted in said block, a drag line connected with said bucket, of a iexible sup* porting member connected at one end with the forward portion of said bucket, extending about said sheave and connected at its other end with said bracket at a point in the rear of said bucket, and a controlling line connected with said bucket and said drag line and slidably connected with said sheave block.

6. The combination, with a bucket, a drag line therefor, a hoisting rope, a sheave block carried by said hoisting rope, and a sheave mounted on said block, a flexible supporting member extendingabout said sheave connected with said bucket at two separated points arranged one in front of the other, a controlling line connecting the forward end of said bucket with said drag line and slidably connected with said sheave, and means for limiting the movement of said iexible supporting member in one direction with relation to said sheave block.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. KING. CLARENCE B. IVESTON. HERBERT E. ROUSH. LOUIS R. RUSSELL.

IVitnesses:

R. H. Rossrrim, O. F. DOUGLAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, '.D. G. 

